Header Small Vol. 4, Number 1, 2009 • Page 2
We had a great International Union Convention in late June and early July this year. As I’m sure that most of you have heard by now, many of the Locals from the former UNITE Union have been involved in outrageous attacks on former HERE Locals. Former President Bruce Raynor and friends tried and succeeded in stripping much of the funds from the International Union. Our attorneys believe that their actions were illegal, as well as being immoral. Some of the former Unite Locals and Joint Boards held meetings this past March notifying only select members to attend a meeting on a Saturday afternoon for the purpose of voting to withdraw from UniteHere. They held a convention in Philadelphia a couple of weeks later and in that one-day convention voted to form a new union called “Workers United” and to then join with SEIU. We have been engaging in major battles throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico where SEIU organizers are attempting to have our members withdraw from our International Union, trying to stop contracts from being signed, and fighting us in places where we have card check neutrality. In Detroit, basically criminal acts took place where Local 24 was involved in a hostile takeover by the Chicago Mid-West Joint Board. We were successful
  

in getting back Local 24, as well as Local 631 in Phoenix, Arizona among other Locals throughout the United States. The so called “Workers United” (SEIU) has been fighting us in a number of airports and taking over our membership in some HMS Host venues such as Charlotte, North Carolina. After a long, hard fight our International Union won card check neutrality with the Workers Bill of Rights at a company called Delaware North, who employs workers at approximately 15 airports throughout the United States, including Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Before the convention, President Raynor resigned and President John Wilhelm was re-elected President on a white ballot. The International Union Constitution was completely re-written, including the way in which International Union Vice Presidents are elected and giving greater power to the local unions and their membership. Also present at the convention were many International Union Presidents and politicians who gave speeches in support of UniteHere and our struggle with the SEIU. A number of other International Union Presidents who were not able to attend the convention signed documents in support of UniteHere in our struggles with SEIU.

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Back Pay Settlement

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